VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9027, 13 April 1888, Page 6

VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

"A" BATTERY INSPECTION.

PRESENTATION TO MAJOR PAYNE.

The regular inspection of the "A" Battery of Artillery was held last evening. Captain Geddes was in command, supported by Lieutenants Ansell and Allen, and Major Payne was present as inspecting officer. There was a splendid muster of the Battery and a. large attendance of honorary members and visitors, and it was at once apparent that there was something on ' foot besides ordinary drill. Amongst those present were Mrs. Payne, Mrs. Geddes, Staff-Surgeon Tennent, Lieutenant Norrie, Captain Rutherford, of the Te Awamutu Cavalry, and a large number of honorary members of the corps; There was a trying big gun drill carried on, four guns and four gun-detachments manoeuvring together, and then the company was put through Infantry drill. The band, under Bandmaster Hunter, was also on parade. At the conclusion of the drill, the company and band were formed into three sides of a hollow square, the visiting members and others forming the fourth, and the officers were grouped in the centre. Captain Geddes, addressing Major Payne, said a great honour had oeen conferred on him in being asked to represent the Battery in wishing him and his lady long life, health, wealth, and happiness on the happy and auspicious occasion of their marriage. He need not dwell on the food qualities which had endeared Major ayne to them, for his words were not powerful enough to express their feelings, but during the time Major Payne had been in the command of the Battery they all had felt honoured in serving under him, and had found in him a true friend. There was no volunteer in Auckland who could not say that Major Payne's reputation was comglete and without a flaw. When the A lattery heard of the happy event which had occurred, they had asked him (Captain Geddes) to make a marriage present, and it afforded him great pleasure to/ present the purse of sovereigns subscribed to unanimously by the honorary and active members of the battery. They left it to himself to choose the form which the present should take, but when "he bought a souvenir, be hoped he would recognise that it was a !>resent from true friends and for "Auld ang syne." He called for three cheers for Major and Mrs. Payne. This was heartly responded to, the band playing." He's a jolly good fellow." Major Payne said he felt proud to meet them, and was proud of the muster they had that evening. He could not speak his feelings towards the Battery. Whatever he had done towards them had been done to the best of his ability. He' might have erred as all people would, but he thought he had erred seldom, and he had handed over to Captain Geddes a company of which he might well be proud. He was also very proud to inform them — and of this he ought to have informed them at first—that the "'A ".Battery ■• had u won the first prize for big gun practice in the colony for the second year jn succession, and he congratulated the Battery on this. ' So far as he himself was. concerned he had little to say. They had made him a handsome present, and it should be kept by him as a memento of his old associations with the '• A" Battery. . He hoped Captain Geddes would have as good musters on every occasion as he had now. The ■•'A" Battery had proved to be Al, and he hoped they would keep up their reputation, and this they could do by every man putting his shoulder to the wheel and helping, and be was quite sure Captain Geddes would not put them to any ex . l cremos. Their drill that night was a credit, to. them, and he hoped to see it carried out on the same principle during the year, and that although their capitation might be reduced, they would show the country they were. still the leading battery ' Mew Zealand. . He thanked the officers, and the hono/ vary and active members, heartily for their j handsome present and good wishes.